Sports agent Steinberg is star of Wyland show

Nov. 12, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Leigh Steinberg tosses a football that he and artist Wyland signed for an auction buyer Sunday evening. The pair signed several footballs that sold for a $250 donation to the Wyland Foundation. Steinberg inscribed his name and "Show me the money," the famous phrase from "Jerry Maguire," the 1996 sports-agent movie that Steinberg inspired. Steinberg received the foundation's Ambassador for the Planet Award. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Wyland stands with Melody Howell of Torrance with a sea turtle he drew for her Sunday evening. It was one of several drawings of marine life that he painted and signed for auction buyers. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Orange County sports agent Leigh Steinberg, left, stands with marine artist Wyland after a VIP whale-watching cruise with Wyland Foundation donors on the Ocean Institute's research vessel Sea Explorer. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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A bronze whale and her calf swim off a coral reef in one of dozens of artworks by marine artist Wyland that were available in a silent auction at the Wyland Foundation's fundraiser Sunday at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Brothers Ryan and Kai Kalama of San Clemente turned out to support the Wyland Foundation, performing Hawaiian music at Sunday's fundraiser at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Wyland Foundation supporter Kristine Weatherly of Aliso Viejo catches a football signed by famed sports agent Leigh Steinberg and marine artist Wyland. The pair signed several footballs in exchange for donations to the Wyland Foundation to benefit art and science education for children. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Leigh Steinberg catches a football that he and Wyland signed for auction buyers Sunday evening. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Wyland works on a sea turtle for Melody Howell of Torrance. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Laguna Beach musician Nick Hernandez played several tunes Sunday that he wrote in collaboration with Wyland for the Blues Planet Band. "I support taking care of the ocean because it's where I live," Hernandez said. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Wyland holds a dolphin he drew for a live auction Sunday evening at the Ocean Institute. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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This acrylic shark was one of several dozen artworks by marine artist Wyland that were part of a silent auction Sunday evening at the Wyland Foundation's fundraiser. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Famed Orange County sports agent Leigh Steinberg received the Wyland Foundation's Ambassador for the Planet Award at Sunday's fundraiser in Dana Point. He spoke about the responsibility each person has for conserving the ocean's resources. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Wyland puts the finishing touches on his signature whale tail Sunday evening in a drawing for a live auction. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

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Wyland applies his signature to a whale tail drawing he did live at a Wyland Foundation auction Sunday at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point. DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

Leigh Steinberg tosses a football that he and artist Wyland signed for an auction buyer Sunday evening. The pair signed several footballs that sold for a $250 donation to the Wyland Foundation. Steinberg inscribed his name and "Show me the money," the famous phrase from "Jerry Maguire," the 1996 sports-agent movie that Steinberg inspired. Steinberg received the foundation's Ambassador for the Planet Award.DAVID BRO, FOR THE REGISTER

The Wyland Foundation threw its biggest annual fundraising party Sunday evening at the Ocean Institute at Dana Point Harbor, with auctions, food, live music and a presentation by famed Orange County sports agent Leigh Steinberg, who spoke about the responsibility each person has for conserving the ocean's resources.

Steinberg was presented with the foundation's Ambassador for the Planet Award for his support of charitable organizations.

Guests who paid $150 per person for the fundraiser could bid on auction items including paintings of turtles, seals and dolphins drawn live by Orange County marine-life artist Wyland.

Earlier, donors who paid extra took a whale-watching cruise with Wyland.

Proceeds will benefit the Wyland Foundation's mobile environmental-education exhibits, art and science programs; classroom teaching materials; and community-outreach campaigns. The goal is to raise $100,000, which would surpass last year's total of about $75,000.

Brothers Ryan and Kai Kalama of San Clemente were among the performers at the fundraiser, playing Hawaiian music.

"I have a baby now, and I want him to be able to enjoy the ocean like I have," Ryan Kalama said. "We have a word in Hawaii, 'kokua,' which means 'helping out' or 'giving back,' and it's what we have to do."

Kai Kalama, a former competitor on "American Idol," said his first name means "ocean."

"I believe in ocean conservation," he said. "I grew up caring for the ocean. ... We need to teach kids to do the same."

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